Display device



Search mom L. E. SHAW DISPLAY DEVICE April '7, 1936.

Filed Nov. 19, 1934 a was gum Examine. 11(

Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE Louis E. Shaw, East Orange, N. J., assignor to Ad Art Craft, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application November 19, 1934, Serial No. 753,605

20 Claims. (Cl. 40-126) This invention relates to an advertising or display device of the type in which colored paper, embossed or otherwise fashioned to produce simulation of vendable articles is arranged in a container or otherwise disposed to give the visual appearance of a top layer of the real articles as such articles are usually displayed in their containers.

The primary object of the invention is to proof being assembled by manual operation or otherwise varied in the act of assembling them as are the real articles which they are intended to represent.

It has also been known to cover such single embossed sheet with its regular simulation of separate articles, such as cigars, with a single sheet of transparent material, creased and tucked in between the parallel simulations in an vide a simple form of display device of this type effort to reproduce the appearance of a layer of 10 which will visually represent an assembly of the individually wrapped cigars. While such disdifierent articles which it is intended to repre play forms make quite an effective showing when sent, and to effect a more natural and real apseen with a casual view, still the individual reppearance to the assembly than do similar display resentations are, as a. matter of fact, not ac- 15 articles now in general use. tually wrapped, and a more attentive inspection 15 It has been known heretofore to provide a. reveals the artificiality of the showing. display device representing a plurality of mer- Accordingly another object of the invention chandise such as cigars, candies, fruits and other and also contributory to the desideratum of the vendable articles, which display device is formed general object is to provide a display device from a single sheet of material such as paper, which will more truly represent an assembly of 20 folded and embossed to simulate a row of articles, individually wrapped articles than has been such as the top row of cigars in a cigar box. known heretofore and specifically to simulate Such known devices have been constructed herethe top row of a box of separately wrapped tofore entirely by machine operation and necescigars.

sarily display, more or less, the stilted regularity Broadly this aspect of the invention is attained 25 and uniformity in appearance imposed by the by providing a plurality of separate and distinct folding machine on the sheet and thus on the units, dummies, or other fabricated shapes, each several representations of the separate articles representing an individual article; individually formed by the single sheet. wrapping each of them in a transparent wrap- The actual articles, however, are assembled, as per; assemblying the embossings so pro-wrapped 30 in the case of the top layer of cigars, by hand on a support in a row or in some other desired operation and thus disclose slight irregularities relation; and finally securing them to the supand distinctivenesses in appearance between the port in the position normally occupied by the several articles. In a box of real cigars, for inexposed row or layer of the reproduced article in stance, any cigar is very apt to be shifted, say a box or other container. The assembly so 35 longitudinally relative to the next adjacent ciformed is mounted in the box or other container gar; one cigar is very apt to differ slightly from as is conventional in such devices and secured in another in size and conformation and particuplace. larly the several joints or cracks between con- Various other objects and advantages of the tiguous cigars are very apt to display slight irinvention will be in part obvious from an inspec- 40 regularities and discrepancies. While these vation of the accompanying drawing and in part riations in the individual real article and parwill be more fully set forth in the following particularly in their relative arrangement when asticular description of one form of mechanism sembled for display may be slight, still the acembodying the invention, and the invention also cumulated effect is noticeable and can not be consists in certain new and novel features of 45 easily reproduced in a structure where the emconstruction and combination of parts 'hereinbossed simulations are formed by machine opafter set forth and claimed. eration on a single sheet and tied together with- In the accomp yin d a out'possibility of shifting as in known forms of F gu e 1 s a pe p View Of a Cigar bOX i l d containing a display device simulating a top row 50 Accordingly another object of the invention of individually wrapped cigars and illustrating a ancillary to the above general object is to propreferred embodiment of the invention. vide a display device of the type above outlined Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the cigarin which the representations of the different arrepresenting, embossed units shown in Figure 1 ticles are formed separately and are thus capable before the transparent wrapper is applied thereto. 55

Figure 3 is a similar view after the wrapper and band have been applied.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the showing of Figure 1 taken axially of one of the embossed units.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the central portion and at the left-hand side of the display device shown in Figure 1 showing three of the units and associated parts; and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view through a modified form of one of the embossed units.

Referring to the drawing, there is disclosed an ordinary cigar box I with hinged cover 2 and within which is located a display device for simulating the top row of cigars in a box.

As shown in Fig. 2, I provide a plurality of separately formed units in the form of embossings 3 formed of suitable paper or other similar material and colored to represent cigars. These embossings are rounded at each end as indicated at 4 to simulate the shape of a cigar and are provided with side flanges 5 to give the appearance of depth. Before arranging the embossings in the box they are wrapped with cellophane or other transparent wrapping material having its end portions bent downwardly and back upon themselves under-lapping the adjacent ends of the embossings as shown at 6 in Fig. 3 of the drawing for use as a display when advertising a brand of cigars which is cellophane-wrapped. While vthe illustrated disclosure shows each cigar representation or embossed unit separably wrapped to simulate individually cellophane wrapped cigars, it is obviously within the scope of the disclosure to include within a single wrapper 6, more than one of the cigar forms 3, so as to represent those brands of cigars where two or three are enclosed in a single wrapper and sold as a vendable unit. The usual cigar band 1 may also be arranged on each of the embossings or dummies.

As shown, a supporting member 8 is placed in the box and this supporting member is provided with integral depending flanges or legs 9 whereby it may be arranged in a suitable plane to dispose the upper surfaces of the embossings in the plane normally occupied by the tops of the cigars arranged in the box. Each end of the support is provided with a tab Ill adapted to engage the adjacent sides of the end embossings to retain the row of embossings in place. The embossings may further be retained in position on the support by a suitable adhesive arranged along the bottom portion ll of the cellophane wrapping or the embossings may be secured to the support by stapling or other suitable means.

It will be apparent that the invention provides means for displaying merchandise such as cigars without actually exposing the stock in the windows or on the counters of the cigar store and thus permit deterioration of the stock. By employing the individual embossings and separately wrapping them in cellophane or other transparent wrappings, a closer simulation of the actual product may be obtained.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, I provide an embossed member l3, having tabs or extensions l4 formed on the central portion between the rounded ends and adapted to be secured to each other by a suitable adhesive or fastening means. This provides an embossed member having sufficient rigidity to permit the transparent wrapper to be applied by the machine normally used for applying such wrappers to cigars in those cases where the channel shaped embossings shown in Figure 6 do not provide sufiicient rigidity to permit them to be fed through the wrapping machine.

I claim:

1. A display device comprising an open top box, a plurality of separate, long, narrow embossings each having its upper exposed surface fashioned to represent the similarly exposed upper ,side of a cigar and said embossings being arranged side-by-side in a row, a plurality of separate wrappers, one for each embossing and each enveloping its associated embossing and held thereby in a distended position, concealed connecting, spacing and supporting means for the embossings, underlying the row of wrapped embossings and fixedly connecting to each other and thus fixedly spacing relative to each other the concealed undersides of all of the wrappers in their arranged relative relation thereby to secure the separate embossings together to form a unit of prearranged wrapped cigar simulations, means for securing the unit to the box in fixed relation to its top to simulate a row of individually wrapped cigars located in the position normally occupied by the top row of cigars in a cigar box.

2. A display device comprising a container, a plurality of separate pre-formed, hollow embossings, each shaped to represent a cigar, a plurality of wrappers, each enveloping at least one of the embossings thereby to form a plurality of separately wrapped cigar-like packages, and means for tying the several packages together in a prearranged relative relation and for supporting said enveloped packages in said container in the position normally occupied by a top row of cigars in a cigar box.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a display device adapted to fit in a container and fashioned to simulate a top layer of articles commonly displayed in such containers, said device comprising a plurality of separately formed units closely assembled side-byside to form a layer and connecting means engaging the units solely at their undersides for connecting the undersides of the units in their assembled relation while permitting slight relative movement between the upper exposed sides of the units and means for mounting the layer in the container.

4. In a display device, the combination of means defining two parallel layers, one layer'constituting a flat support and the other layer comprising a plurality of separate hollow units assembled on one side of the support and projecting laterally and entirely from said side, the exposed side of said other layer simulating a display of merchandise and means between the support and a plurality of spaced apart points of each hollow unit for securing the hollow units in pre-arranged relative relation to each other on the support and said support in its engagement with the units tending to defeat collapsing of the same.

5. A display device comprising a plurality of separate open-bottom, hollow units disposed in juxtaposition to each other in a single plane, a sheet disposed in off-set relation therefrom in a parallel plane and extending continuously and without break from edge to edge and connecting the open-bottom ends of the units thereby to connect and thus tie together the bottom ends of each of the several units and to connect the units to each other, and said units with the connecting sheet coacting to form a single, multi-cellular structure.

6. A multi-cellular display device comprising a plurality of tubular members, each approximately HiBlllNG.

square in cross section adjacent their mid-lengths and arranged in parallel and substantially flat side abutting relation for their entire depth at their midlength; the bottom side of each being integral with the similar side of a next adjacent member whereby the several members are fixedly connected at their bases and otherwise free of each other to permit relative flexing of their upper portions and said units coacting in their abutting relation to mutually resist accidental collapsing of the relatively deep tubular members and the upper side of each member fashioned to display a simulation of an article.

7. In a display device, the combination of a support, a plurality of pre-formed elements each representing an article of commerce, said elements assembled in a row on said support and a pair of tabs, one at each opposite end of the support, each tab engaging the outer side of the adjacent end element and said tabs coacting with the support to retain the row of elements in place.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting member provided with means for elevating the same, a plurality of preformed paper units, each completely enclosed within a transparent wrapper and located on top of the supporting member, each unit including a top portion and side flanges depending therefrom with the transparent wrapper extending between the side flanges and means for securing the bottom portion of the wrapper to the support, the top portion fashioned to simulate a complete article of commerce.

9. A display device comprising a plurality of separate, long, narrow units disposed in parallel relation, each unit being for the most part channel-shaped in cross section with the channels facing downwardly and the upper sides of the webs thereof each fashioned to simulate a vendable article, a plurality of wrappers, one for each unit, and each completely encircling its associated unit and bridging across the space between the side flanges of each unit and a member engaging the under sides of the wrappers and supporting the several units.

10. A display device comprising means representing a row of articles, the individual representations being slightly spaced from each other and a wrapping sheet of transparent material covering certain of the representations and having its side portions passed down into the space between the said certain representations so covered and the next adjacent representations and underlapping said certain covered representations and having its end portions bent downwardly and back upon themselves underlapping the adjacent ends of the representation.

11. In a display device, the combination of a support, a plurality of units each separately wrapped in an envelope of transparent material and each displaying through the envelope the simulation of a vendable article, said units being opaque and assembled on the support in the prefixed relation in which such vendable articles are usually displayed and means concealed from view by the opaque units for securing the underside of each envelop to the support thereby to fix the wrapped units in their prefixed relation.

12. A display device comprising a supporting member, a plurality of hollow elements carried by said member, the exposed upper face of said elements simulating vendable articles and a plurality of separate wrappers, one for each element and each having a portion thereof located between its associated element and the support and said portions, each secured to the support in spaced apart relation.

13. In a display device, a three-dimensioned plaque comprising separate representations of a plurality of articles disposed adjacent one another, a support therefor and a plurality of separate transparent wrappers, one for each representation, each wrapper covering its associated representation and secured to the support independently of each other.

14. In a display device, a hollow tubular member having its underside open at opposite ends, reducing from its midlength toward one end, having an upper exposed side fashioned to simulate a vendable article and having lapping edge portions defining another side adjacent its midlength to form the member tubular at its midlength.

15. In a display device, a long channel-shaped unit having extensions projecting integrally from each side flange adjacent its center and spaced from opposite ends thus leaving the ends of the unit channel shaped in cross section and of less depth than the depth of the central portion, and forming cantilever extensions from the central portion and the top face of said unit having its opposite ends curving downwardly from its central portion and said extensions lapping and secured to each other to form the central portion of the unit into a tube having suflicient rigidity to permit the feeding of the unit through a wrapping machine.

16. In a display device, a long tubular structure channel shape in cross section for a material portion of its length and comprising a top fashioned to simulate an article of commerce, opposing sides depending from the top and acting to give depth to the device and tabs forming extensions from the sides and mutually over-lapping each other to form a double layer bottom to the device.

17. A hollow unit forming one of a plurality of similar units for use in forming a display device simulating a row of articles. said unit simulating one of said articles and being channelshaped at its mid-length and reducing in depth therefrom at opposite ends, the flanges of the channel shape disposed parallel to each other and with their lower edges disposed in a single plane and forming supporting feet.

18. A display device comprising an embossing simulating a vendable article, a support therefor having downwardly extending legs and a tubular wrapper of transparent material enveloping said embossing and secured to said support.

19. In a display device, a channel-shaped unit having extensions projecting integrally from each side flange adjacent its center and said unit having its underside open on opposite sides of the extensions, and forming a top portion outlined by a depending flange and said extensions lapping and secured to each other to form the central portion of the unit into a tube having sufficient rigidity to permit the feeding of the unit through a wrapping machine, and a wrapper substantially enclosing said unit underlapping and bridging across the exposed channel underside at opposite ends of the unit.

20. An advertising device comprising an opentop structure visually representing the sides of I a cigar box, a display dummy fitted in the structure and coacting therewith to simulate a row of individually wrapped cigars located in the position normally occupied by the top row of cigars in a cigar box, said displaydevice comprising a transparent material enveloping the element to simulate a cellophane wrapped cigar, said wrapper having its ends flattened and the flattened ends each bent down into an out-of-the-way position and means for securing the units it; place. 5

LOUIS E. SHAW. 

